10 Intriguing Fantasy Novels for Fans of Mystery

What do you get when you blend magic with mystery? The ten books on this list answer that question with compelling plots about getting to the bottom of perplexing enigmas that take place in fantastical worlds full of witches, ghosts, and zombies. If you're a fan of both fantasy and mystery novels and don't want to pick just one, these books deserve a place on your shelf. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.

The History of the Mystery Genre

Some of the world's oldest known stories used the same elements that make modern mysteries so enticing. Homer's famous epic poem The Odyssey is something of a prototype of the genre. The hero's life is in constant danger as he uses his cunning to solve problems and overcome his enemies. But the genre isn't exclusive to Western culture. One of the stories in One Thousand and One Nights (commonly known as Arabian Nights) is considered to be the oldest known murder mystery. This tale, The Three Apples, is full of plot twists and revolves around a mysterious death. Centuries later, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle popularized the genre with his stories about the now-famous Sherlock Holmes. Eventually, of course, mystery made its way from the pages of books to the big screen. Some of the most well-known of these movies were directed by Alfred Hitchcock, who worked on several classics throughout his career, including Psycho,Vertigo, and Rear Window.

How Fantasy Reflects Our World

In Depth

Fantasy novels take us to all sorts of wonderful new worlds full of astonishing creatures and people with magical abilities. When authors incorporate elements of mystery into their stories, these usually become suspenseful whodunits where protagonists have to navigate unfamiliar lands in order to apprehend supernatural killers. With that said, we've gathered ten intriguing fantasy novels for fans of mystery. Take note that this list is done in no particular order.

First up, at #1, we have "Ghosts of Witches Past" by Corinne O'Flynn. Wavy McClintock is a witch who has the rare ability to see ghosts, and she's lived her entire life on Tower Hill, where she can easily avoid them. One day, an apparition leads her to save an injured outcast named Niall. He tells Wavy that his family intends on killing him in order to prove the innocence of one of his relatives. Together, they try to find the truth behind a years-old murder case, uncovering shocking secrets about their families along the way.

Next, at #2, is "Witchnapped in Westerham" by Dionne Lister. Australian photographer Lily Bianchi starts to worry when her brother James forgets to call her on her birthday, which he does every year. The next day, she's visited by an English woman who claims that her brother works for the Paranormal Investigation Bureau, and he's been kidnapped by an unknown party. Upon learning that she's a witch, Lily has to fly to England and learn how to use her newfound powers so that she can find and rescue James.

The next day, she's visited by an English woman who claims that her brother works for the Paranormal Investigation Bureau, and he's been kidnapped by an unknown party.

At #3 is "Missing in Michigan" by April A. Taylor. Alexa Bentley is a ghost therapist who helps the deceased move on to the afterlife. During one of her cases, she encounters the grieving ghost of a woman who refuses to leave until Alexa can find her missing son. She agrees to look for the lost teenager, and her investigation takes a drastic turn when she realizes that several other boys all around Michigan's Upper Peninsula have also mysteriously disappeared.

Next up, at #4, we have "The Voodoo Killings." Written by Kristi Charish, it's the first entry of her "Kincaid Strange" series, which revolves around the eponymous heroine's paranormal adventures. As a voodoo practitioner living in Seattle, where raising zombies is illegal, Kincaid makes a living by holding seances for college students. When she stumbles upon a zombie who has no memory of how he died and who resurrected him, Kincaid learns that someone has been murdering people like her, and now she has to catch the killer before she becomes the next victim.

At #5 is "The Nine" by Tracy Townsend. Set in a world where science is a religion and God is known as the great experimenter, the story is centered on a magical tome which tracks nine people whose actions will determine the fate of humanity. When a courier named Rowena is tasked with delivering the strange book to a man known as the Alchemist, it's stolen from her by a horrifying creature. Now, Rowena, the Alchemist, and a mercenary named Anselm must find out who stole the book before it can be used to end the world.

Set in a world where science is a religion and God is known as the great experimenter, the story is centered on a magical tome which tracks nine people whose actions will determine the fate of humanity.

Next, at #6, is "Wolfhound Century" by Peter Higgins. In a world reminiscent of 1940s Soviet Russia, investigator Vissarion Lom is summoned to the capital city of Mirgorod in order to find and capture a terrorist named Josef Kantor. He's chosen for the job because he's an outsider who isn't involved in the capital's political struggles. Throughout the course of his search, Lom learns that Mirgorod is more corrupt than he initially thought, and Kantor's plans may spell disaster for more than just the city.

At #7 is "Be Careful What You Joust For" by Ryan Hauge and Ivy Smoak. In the city of Arwin's Gate, House Hornbolt is about to host a tournament that could forever change the lives of every member of their family. Told from the perspective of several characters, the story revolves around the Hornbolts and the challenges that each of them have to face leading up to and after the big tournament. It's an intriguing tale full of many unexpected twists, and readers are sure to enjoy seeing how the many storylines come together towards the end.

Next up, at #8, we have "Scales" by Amity Green. Tessa Conley just finished her summer course in London, and she isn't ready to go back home to Texas yet. Her life changes forever when she visits an old bookstore, where she's suddenly turned into a living gargoyle. One day, her best friend Bree gets abducted, and in order to save her, Tessa must learn more about her mysterious past and navigate a world full of monsters just like her.

Her life changes forever when she visits an old bookstore, where she's suddenly turned into a living gargoyle.

At #9 is "Magicians Impossible" by Brad Abraham. Jason Bishop is a bartender who lives a seemingly normal life. When his estranged father dies, he learns that he was an agent of the Invisible Hand, an ancient society of mages who are at war with a faction known as the Golden Dawn. Targeted by enemies from both sides of the war, Jason must tap into his dormant powers and learn how to control them in order to survive.

Finally, at #10, we have "The City of Lost Fortunes" by Bryan Camp. Jude Dubuisson is a street magician who has the uncanny ability to find lost things. He's been laying low since Hurricane Katrina because the overwhelming amount of loss caused by the storm messed with his powers, and he also owes a debt to the Fortune god of New Orleans. When the aforementioned god is murdered, Jude is forced to resurface and find out who the killer is, learning more about his own heritage along the way.